https://thestreetjournal.org/wife-son-of-lp-presidential-campaign-council-dg-doyin-okupe-plead-for-mercy-as-court-convicts-him-over-money-laundering-charges/

The wife and son of Doyin Okupe, the director-general of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign council, on Monday, December 19, begged a federal high court in Abuja to tamper justice with mercy on Okupe’s sentencing.

The presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, on Monday afternoon, convicted Okupe of breaching the money laundering act.

Okupe received over N240 million in cash from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retired), according to PM News.

Justice Ojukwu, in his judgment, held that Okupe was found guilty of contravening Sections 16(1) and (2) of the money laundering act, for accepting cash payments without going through a financial institution, in excess of the threshold allowed under the act.

Okupe’s wife, Omolola, and son, Adesunkanmi, spoke as witnesses shortly after the court reconvened following the defendant’s conviction.

Apart from Okupe’s wife and son who testified about his good character and honesty before the court, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and former director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Idi Farouk, also gave their evidence and appealed for leniency.

The court sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment on count 34 with an option of a fine of N500,000.

The court also sentenced him to two years imprisonment on counts 35 to 59 with an option of N500,000 fine.

The option of fine is to run consecutively on each count while the sentence is to run concurrently.

Justice Ojukwu also gave Okupe till 4:30 pm before being taken into custody.

It is worth noting that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the LP chieftain in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

Are they back in court today?